Harry Winston's stunning new tourbillon, and watches for a noble cause

Mar 18, 2012

Harry Winston Tourbillon

No machine on Earth demonstrates time quite like the tourbillon. In its Histoire de Tourbillon collection, Harry Winston recognizes the tourbillon as a medium of artistic expression unique in scope, depth and subject. It has now unveiled the stunning Histoire de Tourbillon 3, and has also created an exclusive Timepiece Collection to support The Bokra Project.

Histoire de Tourbillon 3

The third series in Harry Winston’s exploration of the tourbillon choreographs two rotating escapements that guide the time unscathed through the pitfalls of gravity.

Three tourbillons are in action, each rotating at different speeds to perform distinct gravity-defying functions. Two of them are nested one inside the other to rotate the fourth dimension of time through the three dimensions of space.

In this bi-axial tourbillon, one tourbillon carriage rotates every 40 seconds within a second carriage going around in 120 seconds on an axis perpendicular to the first. This ensures that the vibrating balance moves through every possible plane in relation to the field of gravity to average out positional errors.

The third tourbillon carriage rotates a separate balance on a single axis in the conventional way, but at the relatively high speed of one revolution every 36 seconds.

The watchcase, engineered to display the tourbillon systems to their best advantage, is unlike any other. The complex architecture is constructed of 77 parts in white gold and non-reflecting sapphire crystals with the caseband and lugs in Zalium®, a hard and ultra-light zirconium alloy.

The fluid outlines of the tourbillon housing in polished white gold contrast sharply with the rectangular rigidity of the lower case displaying the indications.

Histoire de Tourbillon 3 has a power reserve of 50 hours, indicated by 11 sapphires and 6 citrines. Its water resistance is 30 meters.

Harry Winston Timepiece Collection to support The Bokra Project

Continuing its longstanding commitment to philanthropy, Harry Winston created 11 unique models from its new Midnight collection, designed to support the Bokra Project.

Each timepiece features the engraved signature of leading talents. The four ladies’ Harry Winston Midnight 39mm watches in diamond-set rose gold are signed by singers Latifa, and Waed, and actresses Yosra and Hend Sabry; while the Harry Winston Midnight Big Date models, also in rose gold, bear the names of Quincy Jones and of the singers Kadim Al Sahir, Saber El Rebai, Marwan Khoury, Fayez Al Saeed, film director Ali F. Mostafa and Emirati social entrepreneur Badr Jafar.

The total amount raised from the sale of these models will be entirely donated to the Bokra Project. These 11 one-of-a-kind timepieces are on display in the Harry Winston Salon at The Dubai Mall.

Inspired by Quincy Jones’ original “We are the World” charity production, which was reprised in 2010 on behalf of the Haiti earthquake, the Tomorrow/Bokra project aims to achieve the same level of awareness and raise funds to help the next generation of children across the Arab world. All proceeds including sales and profits will benefit children of the region through education of music, arts and culture.